Key objectives of Roma Week 2025:

Teaching Roma history and culture in school curricula
Promote the integration of Roma history and culture into school curricula, fostering awareness, respect, and understanding of Roma contributions to European heritage.

Sustaining focus on Roma inclusion amid changing EU leadership
With the new leadership of the European Commission and Parliament, Roma Week aims to navigate political transitions, ensuring that Roma, Sinti, and Travellers are not overlooked in policy agendas. The event will strategize on maintaining visibility and cross-party support for Roma inclusion in an era marked by shifting priorities and the rise of far-right influences by gathering EU officials, MEPs, and advocates.

Strengthening political representation and leadership
Roma Week focuses on bolstering Roma leadership, particularly in the political arena, where representation has historically been limited. The event seeks to build pathways for political engagement for Roma, Sinti, and Travellers, emphasising increasing the visibility and influence of Roma women and youth leaders. It also explores strategies for developing alliances and fostering future Romani political leaders.

Addressing antigypsyism and structural discrimination
As discrimination and antigypsyism remain pervasive issues, Roma Week aims to create a united front against these systemic challenges. The event promotes the recognition of antigypsyism as a core human rights issue within the EU and advocates for policies that directly address structural discrimination. This focus includes exploring how policy frameworks, monitoring, and accountability can be enhanced to safeguard Roma rights.

Highlighting intersectional issues and social justice
Recognizing the diversity within Roma communities, Roma Week promotes intersectional approaches to address the compounded discrimination faced by Roma women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and youth. By integrating gender, age, and social identity into discussions, the event seeks to create a more inclusive and holistic approach to Roma advocacy and social justice.

Highlighting Intersectional Discrimination and Racism Against Racialized Minorities in Europe
Roma Week will bridge discussions between EU Antiracism Week and Roma Week by focusing on intersectional discrimination affecting Roma communities alongside other racialized minorities. This objective seeks to foster solidarity and shared strategies across minority groups that experience overlapping forms of racism and exclusion. The event emphasizes that antigypsyism is part of a broader spectrum of racial injustices and explores how Roma communities, as well as Black, migrant, and other racialized groups, face unique and compounded challenges. By creating a unified approach to address structural racism, Roma Week 2025 aims to enhance collaboration between Roma advocates and allies from diverse minority groups, building on the momentum of Antiracism Week. This link will strengthen the EU’s commitment to comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that benefit all marginalized communities, promoting inclusion, understanding, and equality across Europe.

Promoting digital Inclusion and education
Digital exclusion remains a significant barrier for Roma communities in accessing opportunities and services. Roma Week highlights the importance of digital literacy and connectivity as essential tools for Roma empowerment. The event also emphasizes inclusive education, advocating for equal educational opportunities and resources to support Roma students.

Ensuring accountability and effective use of EU funds
Roma Week underlines the importance of accountability in EU funding allocated for Roma inclusion. Through discussions on Roma Civil Monitoring, the event promotes transparency and effective fund utilization, ensuring that EU investments genuinely contribute to Roma empowerment and equality.

Teaching Roma history and culture in school curricula
Promote the integration of Roma history and culture into school curricula, fostering awareness, respect, and understanding of Roma contributions to European heritage.

Transitional Justice and Restorative Justice
Examine transitional justice as a means to acknowledge historical injustices against Roma communities, with a focus on projects like Jekhipen and film documentaries that address anti-Roma violence and restorative justice approaches.

Agenda of the Roma Week 2025

Monday, 7 April

17:00 – 19:00      Official High-Level Opening of EU Roma Week (on invitation only)
Venue:  European Parliament, restaurant 12th Floor (tbc)

Tuesday, 8 April

Romani language interpretation is provided for the entire day

10:00 – 12:00    High-level event on Roma history and culture in school curricula
Organised by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), ERGO Network and Council of Europe
Focus: high-level event with national ministries of interior and education and culture, together with the Council of Europe, European Commission and the academic community, to discuss lessons learned and promising practices in including Roma history and culture in school curricula.
Registration here

11:00 – 13:30    Lunch break

13:30 – 15:30    Roma Civil Monitoring: National Roma Framework Strategies and EU Funds
Organised by Roma Civil Monitoring and European Commission DG Justice and Consumers
Hosted by: MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, EPP
Focus: Discuss Roma Civil Monitoring efforts and EU funding mechanisms supporting Roma inclusion initiatives, emphasising transparency and accountability.
Registration here

16:00-17:00 Zooming in on the Situation of Roma in Ukraine. Reconstruction and Roma’s Role in the Process
Organised by ERGO Network, Diakonia Foundation, International Charitable Organisation Roma Women Fund “Chirikli”
Hosted by: MEP Luděk Niedermayer, EPP
Registration here

19:00   Official Roma Week Dinner at Kamilou restaurant
Organised by ERGO Network
Venue: Kamilou, Rue Joseph II 36, 1000 Brussels
Focus: Networking event celebrating Roma culture, achievements, and contributions to EU societies
Registration here

Wednesday, 9 April

08:00– 9:30     Roma Youth Voices Breakfast: Building Inclusive Europe through digitalization with Roma Youth (closed event)
Organised by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network & MEP Hristo Petrov, Renew Europe
Focus: This breakfast event aims to bridge perspectives between Roma youth and members of the European Parliament, fostering dialogue on critical issues related to Roma inclusion. It will address the specific needs of Roma youth and broader initiatives impacting them within mainstream inclusion efforts. This gathering provides a platform for young Roma voices to contribute to shaping policies and strategies for a more inclusive Europe.

10:30 – 12:30    Roma Youth and Digitalisation
Organised by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network & ERGO Network
Hosted by MEP Hristo Petrov, Renew Europe
Organised by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network & MEP Hristo Petrov, Renew Europe.
Focus: The session will focus on the critical importance of digital inclusion for Roma communities. We will discuss the barriers hindering access to technology and the digital skills gap and explore innovative solutions to empower young Roma individuals and communities. This includes also exchanging good practices for promoting digital inclusion.
Registration here

Lunch break

13:30 – 15:30 Transitional Justice
Organised by ERGO Network, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, European Roma Rights Centre, Antigypsyism Reporting and Information Center MIA
Focus: Exploring transitional justice as a pathway to acknowledge and address historical injustices faced by Roma communities, with perspectives on the Jekhipen Project.
Registration here

16:00 – 17:30 Film screening and panel discussion
“When Toby met Mirek – extreme right, anti-Roma violence and restorative justice.“
Organised by Dr Elżbieta Mirga-Wójtowicz, Fundacja Jaw Dikh, Poland (ERGO Network member), Prof. Michał P. Garapich, Dr Anna Jochymek and Dr Rafał Soborski (London Metropolitan University)
Registration here

Thursday, 10 April

09:00 – 11:00    Intersectional Discrimination and Racism Against Racialised Minorities in Europe
Organised by ERGO Network, Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), European Network Against Racism, European Roma Rights Centre, Antigypsyism Reporting and Information Center MIA, Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descend, European Network on Statelessness
Focus: Addressing work and community challenges for Roma and other racialized minorities, with a focus on intersectional discrimination and barriers to inclusion, infringements, statelessness, police violence, segregation (infringements), access to justice, and basic services.
Registration here

11:00 – 13:00 Roma Women’s Political Participation
Organised by Karima (ES), Romni aps and ERGO Network
Focus: Experiences and challenges faced by Roma women in mainstream politics, strategies for enhancing political engagement, and building supportive networks.
Registration here

Lunch break

16:30 – 20:30 DG ENEST: Inclusive Education Award
Organised by: Roma Active Albania
Venue: Concert Noble
Focus: Highlighting initiatives from the Western Balkans and Turkey for inclusive education practices and recognizing achievements in promoting educational access for Roma students.
Registration here